Cities on Fire Read online

  ***

  Chapter 1

  The Ghost of Christmas Past

  Aug 25th, 1015

  Front Gate

  Defiance, America

  The guards spotted two men coming to the gate on horseback. At about one hundred feet, the two men stopped their approach. One of the men yelled out, “Hello, the gate.”

  The reply was, “Advance on foot and keep your hands well away from any weapons. At twenty feet the guard said, “State your business.”

  “I’m here to see Colonel Levi Levins. Is he still alive?”

  The guard told them to standby while the second guard ran to tell Colonel Levins.

  Levi was sitting on a bench on the village green with Katie when the guard ran up to him, saluted and said, “Sir, there are two men at the gate who have asked to speak with you.”

  He thanked the guard and excused himself from Katie, who decided to tag along.

  When Levi got to the gate, he saw an older man with a full beard and a young man. Levi said, “Hello, my name is Levi Levins, how may I be of assistance to you. Recognition began to set in, and he said, “Gus, Gus Murtaugh! Is it really you?

  Gus said, “Yes, it’s me, Levi. May we come in?”

  Guard, open the gate.”

  Levi grabbed Gus in a huge bear hug, lifting him off the ground and said, “Of course, and this young man is?”

  “Levi, this is my son, Darren. Darren, this is the man I’ve told you so much about, Colonel Levi Levins.”

  Levi asked one of the guards to take the horses to Bruce, the Farrier to have the horses checked out and fed.

  As they passed the gate, Katie appeared beside Levi taking his hand. “And this,” said Levi, “is my daughter Katie Levins.

  Gus held out his hand to shake hands with Katie who looked at the hand for several seconds before accepting the offer of friendship.

  Gus introduced Darren to Katie, causing both to blush.

  Levi led them to his office and directed the Sgt. Major to find Ralph, Lt. Colonel Eldridge and Major Smith to request they drop by to say hello to an old friend.

  Levi asked Kate to show Darren their little town while he and Gus caught up.

  Kate was not at all thrilled, as she still harbored some level of distrust of males, but to please her Dad, she agreed and off they went.

  Just as that moment Ralph and Scott came in to say hello, Gus hugged them both and then looked closely at Scott seeing the silver leaves of a Lt. Colonel, turned to Levi and asked, “Wasn’t Scott a Staff Sergeant when we last met?”

  “Yep, he sure was, and now he is slated to assume command of the 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment. I know, we didn’t have enough men to drive the trucks back from Lejeune, but now we have nearly four hundred troopers from all over America in our ranks.”

  Gus sat down and said, “All over America, but Levi, it’s crazy outside of your borders, and I mean crazy.”

  “Wait a sec there, Gus, we’ve named our new nation America, and it consists of those forty miles from the center of our Village Green. Everyone seemed to like it, and the vote was carried by a huge margin.”

  They continued to chat for several minutes before sensing that Levi and Gus would like some privacy and excused themselves.

  When they were again alone, Levi gave Gus the story of the meteoric rise of Scott Eldridge. He also told him that Ben did not feel prepared for that level of command and really loved his job as XO. He made it clear to us that he wanted to remain in his job. Levi noted that he was very relieved at Ben’s decision because he was that good.

  He also related that following the Unity Day Celebrations a vote of confidence was given to change Ralph Bassett’s title from Mayor to the first President of The Republic of America. His term would run for four years. He would govern by consent of the people of America.

  America wanted to strictly adhere to the original Constitution of the United States of America, and so it was decided that there would be no professional or lifelong politicians. A Congress would be elected when the borders of America reached a population of ten thousand and would meet for three months every two years. This model had certainly worked well for Texas since their entrance into the Union.

  Until the Congressional election, the President would work with an Advisory Group made up of the Mayors of any town having a population more than five-hundred citizens.

  Gus then asked, “Wow, I guess things have changed around here. Aren’t you concerned that without Congressional and Judicial oversight a President may declare himself King?”

  “That very concern came up, and we have come to the conclusion that the military arm, having sworn allegiance to the Constitution of America places the President in a secondary position. Having said that, will the military take over and become a Dictatorship?

  I guess I can only tell you what Benjamin Franklin told a citizen when she asked what kind of new government he had given her. Old Ben replied, A Republic, ma’am if you can keep it. I can only hope that we can keep it.”

  Gus smiled and changing the subject said, “Levi, I had no idea you had children, I thought you were alone.”

  Levi explained how he came to adopt Katie, and how he found her.

  Gus said, “Yeah that would explain the hesitation on the handshake thing and the intro to Darren.”

  Levi then asked what had happened to Gus back in Kentucky.

  Gus related that he made it home in only three weeks, but that was two weeks too late. His wife and two daughters were raped and murdered. The girls were ten and twelve.

  Neighbors opened their home to Darren in the hope that I would find my way back. Fortunately, Darren had not been home when the assault happened. The family that took him in burned the house down to the foundation after finding Colleen and the girls. They told me that they were sorry about the fire, but they did not want Darren, or me to see the family or the inside of the home.

  Darren and I hung around for a few days while I rested up and did some scrounging for the family. The only thing in the house that survived the fire was my gun safe in the basement. It did take a bit of work to get to it, but it was worth the effort. I didn’t have much in the way of weapons, but I was able to give Darren’s saviors a nine mil and one hundred rounds of hollow point.

  Darren and I took the two long rifles, both ARs and a couple of 9 mil HiPoints along with a thousand rounds of ammo. I still have my issue, Beretta, too.

  Darren’s fifteen now and those summer camps are paying off. He camps well and is an excellent shot and spotter.”

  Levi asked if they would like to stay in Defiance. Gus declined and said that he had other plans. He would ask Darren if he wanted to stay, if that was all right with the Mayor.

  “If Darren chooses to stay then I guarantee he will be welcome. Do you have a destination in mind for your travels?”

  Gus said that he intended to move on south for the winter, beyond that he would take it one day at a time.

  “Gus, I have arranged to turn over command to Scott on 1 Sep. I also plan to leave. You see, on the first day of lights out my wife, Sarah was murdered. As I killed her attacker, I swore to Sarah that I would become an avenging angel and make it my life’s work to send as many villains as possible straight to hell…with prejudice.

  It seems we are, at least planning on moving in the same direction. Are you willing to give up the horse thing? You’re welcome to come with me in my luxurious 1965 Jeep.”

  Gus was stunned at my revelation. He said he had no idea of my tragedy, and though he didn’t want to say so, he had the same goal in mind. Kill killers until one killed him. Therefore, yeah, he was more than willing to go with Levi except for one thing. “Levi, I don’t see how we could go for long distances with three or four passengers in a Jeep.”

  “Yes, I guess you’re right, my thinking was focused on one or two. All right giddy-up cowboy. When were you thinking of leaving?”

  Gus said that he thought he’d like to stay four or five days to re
st up and maybe find a razor. He told Levi that the beard thing was getting a little old.

  “Say, Levi, what was in that heavy assed box the General gave you?”

  Levi told him all about the box and the trip to Sunny Point. He also told Gus about the return to Lejeune and finding the General’s body. “He is still in his chair, forever on duty.”

  “I had a suspicion that he would take that route. His options were really few. I remember that just before I locked the gate, I turned toward his office and sent a final salute up to him and then to the colors.

  He was a good man and honorable man; I miss him.”

  “Tell me, is it possible for you to be able to depart on 1 Sep?” asked Levi.

  Gus liked the idea and said he would speak to Darren when he returned.

  *

  25 Aug 00, 1300

  Levi’s Quarters

  Defiance, America

  “Katie, we need to talk…”

  Kate interrupted saying, “Dad, don’t worry about it, its fine. I don’t care what the destination is, all that matters is that we are together. So, when do we leave?”

  “Sweetie, you are staying here. I have things I have to do, and I do not want you to be a part of them.”

  Trying hard to keep her cool, Kate said, “What I am going to say right now is not going to feel good to you, Dad, but it has to be said.

  Do you think that other than dying your Sarah suffered any more than I did with more than three months of being brutally used in every way you can imagine, and traded around for a couple of grams of meth, or maybe you can’t, but I can because those things did happen to me! I’m sorry, Dad, I love you, but I trust no one else, and I will go with you or after you.

  Don’t you think I have a right to some payback for what those animals did to me? Did you think I was just feeding you a fucking line of bullshit?” Katie said through tear-filled eyes.

  “Kate,” said Levi harshly, “do you eat with that mouth! You will speak like a young lady, and keep a civil tongue in your head, are we clear?”

  “No, Levi, we are not clear. If you leave me here, I owe you nothing. Leave me here, and I will follow, I mean it. You can have Ralph lock me up for as long as you want, but as soon as he lets me out, I am gone.

  If you go, I go, maybe I will never find you, and maybe I will die of a broken heart.” Katie began to sob and threw herself into Levi’s arms. “Dad, I’ve become a really good shot and spotter. I can fight now and win. Look, you need a spotter and someone to cover your six while we do what we both have to do. Did you notice I’m even learning Army talk, like covering your six?”

  Both had tears now, and Levi said, “Sweetie, you’re killing me, here, you know that?”

  Through her deep sobs, she managed to say, “And you will be killing me if I can’t find you when Ralph lets me out.”

  “Kate, I’ll make you a deal, give me one year and I’ll come back for you, and then we’ll go. It will give you time to grow and hone your skills. By then you might even be able to kick my butt.”

  “Oh, please, I can kick your butt now, and no, but how about you take me with you for one year and then we’ll see what happens?”

  “Sweetie, how about we go out for a week as a trial?”

  “Daddykins, how about we go out for three months as a trial?”

  “This; young lady is my final offer, accept it, or you don’t go at all. Two months, and we’ll see.”

  She hugged him so tight he couldn’t breathe for a few seconds. “Deal, Dad, I love you, and you’ll see. We will make the perfect team. You’ll see.”

  “Dear God in Heaven, I must be some kind of natural born fool to go down this road, but yeah, we’ll see. I love you, Kate.”

  “Dad, you keep calling me Kate instead of Katie. I like it, buy why?”

  “Sweetheart, Kate sounds more grown up than Katie, and I got a feelin’ you are thirteen going on about thirty, and just for the record, I was not looking forward to leaving you behind. I guess I just have to face it, you are a part of me now, and you know what? I’m glad.

  Now, tell me all about Darren.”

  “Oh, Dad, you need to learn when to just shut up.”

  TO BE CONTINUED

  Cliff’s books can be found on at Amazon @

  https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B06XGPG7YZ

  TO CONTACT THE AUTHOR

  CT DEANE - Home | Facebook

  A complete list and description of all of my books follow.

  If you like my novel, please post a review on Amazon.

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  To view other books by AJ Newman, go to Amazon to my Author’s page:

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  A list and description of my other books start on the next page.

  Thanks, A.J. Newman

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  Books by A J Newman

  Alien Apocalypse:

  The Virus Surviving

  A Family’s Apocalypse Series:

  Cities on Fire – Family Survival

  After the Solar Flare - a Post-Apocalyptic series:

  Alone in the Apocalypse Adventures in the Apocalypse*

  After the EMP series:

  The Day America Died New Beginnings The Day America Died

  Old Enemies The Day America Died Frozen Apocalypse

  “The Adventures of John Harris” - a Post-Apocalyptic America series:

  Surviving Hell in the Homeland Tyranny in the Homeland

  Revenge in the Homeland...Apocalypse in the Homeland John Returns

  “A Samantha Jones Murder Mystery Thriller series:

  Where the Girls Are Buried Who Killed the Girls?

  Books by A J Newman and Cliff Deane

  Terror in the USA: Virus: Strain of Islam

  These books are available at Amazon:

  http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HT84V6U

  To contact the Author, please leave comments @:

  www.facebook.com/newmananthonyj Facebook page.

  About the Author

  A J Newman is the author of 17 novels that have been published on Amazon. He was born and raised in a small town in the western part of Kentucky. His Dad taught him how to handle guns very early in life, and he and his best friend Mike spent summers shooting .22 rifles and fishing.

  He read every book he could get his hands on and fell in love with science fiction. He graduated from USI with a degree in Chemistry and made a career working in manufacturing and logistics, but always fancied himself as an author.

  He served six years in the Army National Guard in an armored unit and spent six years performing every function on M48 and M60 army tanks. This gave him a great respect for our veterans who lay their lives on the line to protect our country and freedoms.

  He currently resides in Owensboro, Kentucky with his wife Patsy and their four tiny mop dogs, Benny, Sammy, Cotton, Callie and Benny.